Give Amplify Connect

Ronald McDonald House Alberta: Keeping Families Close

• Wolfe Pack Warriors Foundation • Episode 25

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We explore how Ronald McDonald House Alberta keeps families together during pediatric treatment, turning the hidden costs of travel, food, and fatigue into manageable routines. Renee shares her son’s cancer journey, while Suzanne explains the province-wide network and the recent Calgary expansion.

• travel for specialized pediatric care across Alberta
• hidden costs of “free” healthcare and lost income
• Renee’s path from diagnosis to stem cell transplant
• the role of meals, shuttles, and caregiver support
• siblings’ memories shaped by crafts and community
• expansion in Calgary from 27 to 91 suites
• measuring impact with family health and savings
• ways to give: monthly, round up, volunteer, tell stories
• modelling kindness, community, and giving to kids

About Our Guests
Suzanne Pescod - Marketing and Communications Director at Ronald McDonald House Alberta. A fan of books, hot coffee, and laughter. My coolest role so far is Nova and Ronan’s mom!

Renee Labriola - Registered Dental Hygienist, Assistant Clinical Professor at University of Alberta, mom of 2 including a brain cancer survivor. Amateur pastry chef and lover of butter.


What is Give Amplify Connect?

There’s a story behind every action. Give Amplify Connect is a podcast from the Wolfe Pack Warriors Foundation that gives a voice to the Alberta-based charitable organizations creating community impact, changing lives, and making a difference. Driven by honest conversations with host Kristy Wolfe, it’s a chance for passionate changemakers to share their story.

Learn more at wolfepackwarriors.com

Podcast music used with artist permission
"Okay" by Ellen Braun


Renee Labriola:

It was the worst leg of the treatment, but I have only happy memories from Ronald McDonald's house. We went there and we built a gingerbread house and we did crafts. He remembers that. He does not remember the horrors of pediatric cancer. And for that I am eternally grateful.

Announcer:

Welcome to Give Amplify Connect, the Wolfe Oack Warriors Foundation podcast that dives deeper into the stories of the charitable organizations in Alberta that are making a difference. Host and producer Kristy Wolfe sits down with the leaders of the nonprofit world to learn more about their purpose, hopes, and dreams. Settle in for an honest conversation with Kristy about the impact people are making in their communities and how they keep moving forward.

Kristy Wolfe:

With me today, we have two people. Both of them are connected in some way to Ronald McDonald House Alberta. We have Renee Labriola and Suzanne Pescod. And I'm actually gonna get each of them to introduce themselves. Suzanne, will you start? Tell us how you are connected to Ronald McDonald House.

Suzanne Pescod:

Absolutely. Uh well, I am the director of marketing communications with Ronald McDonald House Alberta, and I've had the great pleasure of working with the organization for 10 years now. So a decade of service in the not-for-profit sector. And uh it has been incredible to watch the mission's impact on tens of thousands of families. And uh, you know, getting the chance to talk about how we help families traveling for pediatric care is such a joy and uh so excited to have our friend Renee here with us as well because she's got that firsthand experience of what it's like to be at a Ronald McDonald House.

Renee Labriola:

All right, Renee, take it away. All right. Well, she kind of stole my thunder there, but uh I am a mother of two boys and a wife to Angelo. We're a family that stayed at Ronald McDonald's House, Alberta. We stayed in the Calgary house while my son received pediatric cancer care.

Kristy Wolfe:

And so how long ago was that, Renee? We're gonna dive into this story a little bit.

Renee Labriola:

So that was 2021. We had a lot of his treatment here in Edmonton, but in Alberta, they only do stem cell transplants for children in Calgary, and they only do solid organ transplants for children in Edmonton, I believe. Early on in this treatment, it was divulged to us that yes, you will need to travel for this, which was surprising to me. Um, being so spoiled to be in the capital city and everything is at my fingertips and world-class people are treating my son and what? I have to go to another city. So that's how I became acquainted with Ronald McDonald's House is we actually stayed there. And I just can't get enough of RMH, Alberta, and I'm happy to be on the board of directors now.

Kristy Wolfe:

Renee, what you're saying really resonates with me. I we don't know each other well yet, but we were also a family in Edmonton, and we never needed Ronald McDonald's House while we lived there because the services that we need were cardiac and Stellary Children's Hospital is where those would happen. And so I know lots of families that came to Edmonton for Ronald McDonald House's services, but it's interesting to hear that you're in Edmonton and needed Calgary for care. And so that's just, I don't know, one of the amazing things about Ronald McDonald House that there's multiple sites across Alberta and four different specialties, you might end up in different places. Suzanne, will you talk to us a bit more about Ronald McDonald House as well?

Suzanne Pescod:

Well, we've had the great pleasure of being open in Alberta since 1985. So this year we're actually celebrating our 40th year of service delivery here in the province. And uh, so that means our houses in Edmonton and Calgary opened in 1985. We also have a house in Red Deer and a house in Medicine Hat. So making sure that we're serving multiple communities there. What Renee spoke to about having to travel, a lot of families never expect to need a Ronald McDonald house, but they're certainly grateful it's there when they do. You know, I'm similar to Renee. I live in Edmonton, I've got two young children. I have been lucky that the hospital is at my fingertips if it's required. That's not the case for nearly 70% of Canadians. They actually live outside of where that specialized pediatric treatment is going to be required. You know, we talk a lot about health care and free health care here in Canada, but the truth is accessing it is not free. Over the last decade, I've just met tons of families where the barriers to get to care are isolating, they are financially devastating. And families are faced with really, really hard decisions. You know, we're talking about maybe dad's got to stay working while mom is with the child in treatment or even also with the siblings. And, you know, happened to Renee. And can you imagine not having that support system around you when you're going through that challenging time period? And I have been amazed not only at what the Raw McDonald's can do in terms of financial savings, but in terms of building that community for a family. Because unless you've been through it, and I speak this as someone who hasn't been through it, but has only seen it, it's very hard to describe to friends and family what you're experiencing unless they've actually been in your shoes. And uh, I'm so proud of the community that it pulls together to help out families.

Kristy Wolfe:

Oh, that's awesome. And Renee, I saw you pointing to yourself as Suzanne was talking about the husband having to work and the mom going for treatment. Will you share a bit more about your story and your experience at Ronald McDonald's house?

Renee Labriola:

Yeah, so I am a uh practicing dental hygienist. And um, so right before I had Marco, it was 2020. So I had been off work because I didn't really want to roll the dice going back to work pregnant when COVID had shut the world down. It didn't seem like a great idea. And so I was home before Marco was born, and then he was born, and then we had almost a full Matt leave, and then a couple weeks before I was gonna return, it was oh, just kidding. Um, now he's got cancer. So I couldn't work um and be there for his care. So uh a huge part of me thought, wow, you never even took one second and thought about this before. But you know, I just oh, we're Canada, we have socialized medicine. Uh oh wait, what if you can't work? So, yes, we did not receive a medical bill, but our mortgage wasn't taken care of. So our experience at Ronald McDonald's house was truly amazing from the financial perspective, obviously. Um, we did a lot of his treatment in Edmonton. He had six brain operations, several rounds of induction chemotherapy, and then we went to Calgary for the hardest leg or arguably, uh the stem cell transplant. And that was a six-week stay. So we went for a little jaunt back and forth to do the harvest, which is a very time-sensitive procedure, and so we were flown back and forth. Um, and that was just me and Marco. And then we returned for a six and a bit uh week stay in the Christmas season of 2021 while he received his stem cell uh therapy. So yeah, from a financial perspective, you think, okay, well, six weeks of what hotel Airbnb? Like, I haven't been at work for almost well, it's been a year and a half. Like, how are we gonna swing this? It was put out to us that we're lucky to have this service, but you know, let's hope for the best. You might not get in. And then it was another layer of wait, what? Okay, so I have to travel. And also there's this amazing service that might make this actually doable, but I might not be able to get it. It's just layers on layers of added stress and worry. Speaking to Suzanne's comment about the community, it was just, especially in 2021, it was nice to be around people. I mean, I couldn't see that they were smiling because they had their mask on, but um, we could see that their eyes were smiling, and it was just nice to be around other people. It had been a very, very isolating maternity leave with an 18-month-old terrible pregnancy. And then you continue that on through infancy, and now I have a vulnerable infant, and so we're still not doing swimming pool library and then going into cancer treatment, and now you're actually immunocompromised, and you just you don't see anybody, you don't talk to anybody. It was so horribly isolating to get to a place where it's like a mini vacation and it looks like a ski chalet, and you have the view of the mountains in the background. It was the worst leg of the treatment, but I have only happy memories from Ronald McDonald's house.

Kristy Wolfe:

Well, you kind of put us there. You mentioned that you were at Ronald McDonald's house over the holidays, that your husband was working, but you had another son with you. My husband was working uh remotely.

Renee Labriola:

So he was doing about three days a week. And so the way we had to do it during initial COVID was they were only allowing one caregiver at a time. So we just uh my husband puts it shifts passing in the night. So we would do the handoff, one parent, one child every 24 hours. So we were never in the same room. So again, another horribly isolating. Um it would have been so great if we all could have just been together for even a little bit. But I had my three-year-old Enzo, and now he's seven, and he still refers to the the Calgary house as like a fun little vacation that he had. There was, you know, a gigantic Christmas tree and the big staircase and and the big fluffy Sully uh from Monsters Inc. And he's got nothing but happy memories. And we went there and we built a gingerbread house and we did crafts. He remembers that. He does not remember the horrors of pediatric cancer. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Kristy Wolfe:

Well, and I think that's a really key point. You've mentioned that your husband and you were like ships passing in the night, and the hospital in Calgary is very close to Ronald McDonald House. So having the ability to go back and forth, having one son in each of those places, I think is really incredible. And based on the timeline, I know that you were there before they did the expansion. Suzanne, will you talk a little bit about what has happened at the Calgary House since Renee was staying there?

Suzanne Pescod:

You know, Renee brings up a really good point that there was a chance she wasn't going to get in. And that's the truth, especially in Edmonton and Calgary. You know, we've only been serving 14% of the demand, and that's only due to lack of space. That's, you know, a testament to the incredible health care that happens here in the province. And also a bit of ignoring what it means to access the pediatric healthcare. Ron McDonald's has been doing this just for 40 years, and we knew that we we couldn't be turning people away anymore. Our volunteers at the front desk, they told us, they said, no, we these wait lists are too long. Like we've got to do something. So we were very fortunate. We broke ground uh June 2023 uh in Calgary to make to our expansion project. And in June 2025, we opened up, we went from 27 family suites to 91 family suites. An incredible change in our capacity to be able to serve families. We're already seeing, you know, the house filling up. Um, it's changed some of the ways we've had to do some of our programming, but it feels just as homey as it did at 27 Family Suites, which is really lovely. And it just means families like Renee's won't have to have that scary moment of I'm not gonna get in, or find a hotel room and we'll call you if something opens up, which is the case for quite a few families.

Kristy Wolfe:

When did the other houses open?

Suzanne Pescod:

So our Red Deer house opened in 2012, I believe. It's been open for over 10 years now, and Medicine Hat opened in 2020. Uh so those help serve those regional hospitals with uh a lot of families that are seeking treatments for pediatric care, NICU care, mental health treatments, uh, and that kind of service delivery can happen at those regional hospitals. Um but we have quite a few families that will transfer between houses. So potentially they've started at the Red Deer Ronald McDonald House, um, and then they the medical teams determine they've got to go to the Calgary Ronald McDonald House or sorry, the Calgary Hospital. Uh, they say then at the Calgary Ronald McDonald House and the service programming, everything they uh loved about the Red Deer House continues on in the Calgary House. And so that's what's wonderful, wonderful about being a provincial organization is that that delivery of service doesn't change no matter which hospital you're ending up at. Suzanne, will you tell us how you got involved with Ronald McDonald House to start out? Well, you know, an opportunity came up to work there, and that was 10 years ago. I have to stop saying that. But it was actually before I had kids. And I remember I hadn't worked in the not-for-profit sector before. And I remember thinking, this is a charity that stands out, a sterling reputation, uh, wonderful innovation when it comes to the mission delivery that they're doing, and a reputation that, you know, I haven't really seen in another not-for-profit. And I thought this is a place where I would be very proud to work. So I was very lucky. I got started in Edmonton before we had our amalgamation of the entire province. Since then, I've had two kids, including one pregnancy that landed me in the hospital for a couple of weeks. And it was a huge reminder that this isn't just about working for a great organization, this about making a huge impact. You know, my husband, it was, we were fortunate. I we live blocks from the hospital. He could keep his job. Um, and my parents could come and visit me. And then, you know, now my kids are eight and five. And I think about it all the time, what it would mean to leave that support system if something went um sideways in their health.

Kristy Wolfe:

It's so interesting. Suzanne and I know each other. We've known each other for a long time. And it's just, it's always neat to hear kind of the backstory, people's experience. And I feel that same way. I before I worked with Wolfpack Warriors Foundation, I was a teacher. And as a teacher who didn't have children compared to as a teacher who did have children, it just gives you a new perspective of the way you think about how parents are managing, how kids are managing. And so I can really appreciate that piece around having a shift of perspective once you've had kids, once you've had a medical experience as well, and just the empathy that comes with that and the rethinking about how things are done sometimes that enables better programming, I would say.

Suzanne Pescod:

Absolutely. You know, we get our um our families that stay with us, they provide feedback and information once they leave the house. And if you see the impact that Ron McDonald's is having on those families, you know, 99% say that it saved them money. 99% are saying that it had an impact on their family's health because of they had the chance to stay together and focus on each other. You know, 99% would be recommending it to another medical family. That's huge. It's a huge change in how you experience that medical journey. And when I started there, I loved it because you play with the kids, you're holding babies, you're doing the activities and the programming, and it's and it's wonderful that way. And then you have kids and you realize if mom, dad, caregivers are not okay, this journey is not going to be okay. It's going to be so much harder. And uh, and you've got to look after the family in a pediatric medical journey. And the hospitals aren't always equipped to do that. They have to focus on the patient. We understand that. So we're there to work hand in hand with our healthcare partners on that side of things.

Kristy Wolfe:

Oh, absolutely. Okay, so Renee, we know you've had the experience. I know what brought you to Ronald McDonald House, but tell me why you got involved as a board member.

Renee Labriola:

Well, that was kind of like a cherry on top, pleasant surprise. But um the way I got involved was just a random email from Suzanne uh saying, Hey, does anyone want to share their story? And I could do a three-part lecture series on Marco's story. I love talking about it. It's my free therapy. So it was like five in the morning, and I just kind of penned an email back and just hit send. And she contacted me shortly after that. Hey, do you want to be the family speaker at this uh golf event? And then that became, do you want to do the gala? And both the gallas. And then do you want to do error McHappy Day was first, actually, I think. Um, so I ended up just doing a bunch of speaking engagements uh regarding Marco's story, and I just I fell in love with it. I love interacting with people, I love increasing awareness, and I love giving back to the organization that helped us so immensely. Our goal was to give back financially, you know, kind of payback what we had done. And then that became okay, well, I can have a bit of a wider reach if I can help out with some of this niche stuff that not everybody can or wants to do. So if this is my contribution, you know, on top of our monthly donation, then I'm happy to do it and keep doing it. And it was just proposed to me. A bunch of people had kind of timed out on the board and they reached out and said, Hey, what do you, what do you think? And of course I absolutely jumped at it.

Kristy Wolfe:

I love that. I uh was wondering once you started talking about this, just Suzanne, how many parents who have actually experienced Ronald McDonald's house are on your board?

Suzanne Pescod:

So we usually have some sort of family representation, whether it's through a committee or on our board of directors. One in four Canadians either are or know a family who stayed at a Ronald McDonald House. So it's very hard to find someone that has no connection to the organization uh once they're there, uh, whether on an advisory committee or on our board of directors. So, you know, Renee had no idea that two or three years ago that one email was gonna turn into a ton of um sharing her story and acting as quite an ambassador for organization, not just locally, but she's also shared her story on the international platforms, which has been really great because it it's the way people understand why Ronald McDonald House matters. Every once in a while you kind of feel like maybe it's just taken for granted because it's just happening and families can stay there. But when you hear someone like Renee share her very powerful story about what she experienced, you just see it hit someone in the heart in a different way. Because not only do they maybe know or are a family state at the Raoul McDonald's, they are definitely someone who knows or has been someone that's gone through a medical journey.

Kristy Wolfe:

As we're speaking, I just made the connection that Renee was a speaker at the grand opening of the Calgary House after their expansion. And so I, Renee, I've actually heard you speak. I have pictures of you speaking because that was one of the ways that I was really connected to the house. We lived in Edmonton, my son was in the NICU. I was reading a blog called Voluntography, Why Shooting for Free Made Me a Better Photographer. And I reached out to this at the time. It was a couple who were doing photographs for Ronald McDonald House. And I said, I don't know what I'm doing, but can I help? And they were like, uh, yeah, here's the thing. We're too busy. Will you just take it over? So my foray into storytelling and into photography was actually photographing Ronald McDonald House families in Edmonton for quite a few years. And so the story piece of what you were telling me already, and now what I know from you during the speech at the grand opening is just how important those family stories are. And being able to share that is not just what helps with fundraising goals, because that's a big part of it, but it's also what lets people know just how important that community connection, the supports for family. I mean, you were talking about Enzo. And like his experience of that time is not the same as your experience of that time. It's not the same as his brother's because there was a place for him to be that wrapped around him. And I mean, I know lots about Ronald McDonald's house, and I should probably get one of you to explain this, but just all the supports from meals to programming. What are some of the things that you want people to know about what happens in the house?

Suzanne Pescod:

I think sometimes people might have a misconception about what the Ronald McDonald House is. We are very recognized for accommodation and we do provide that, you know, a family suite for families to stay in that is comfortable, has the amenities of home there, but it is so much more. A lot of families show up at the hospital just the clothes on their back. They had no idea that morning that their child would be diagnosed or they've experienced an accident. So we deliver services, including meals. So at least one meal a day, a grab and go area, because a lot of the research and then a lot of the qualitative stories that we hear from families are I wouldn't have been eating or I'm not eating. These families then have to go to the hospital and make really hard decisions about their child's treatment. And they're doing this on no sleep because they don't have access to good accommodation and they are not eating because parents, caregivers, do not think of themselves when it comes to looking after their children. They just don't. And we need to make sure there's services around that they're looking after themselves. In the Edmonton House, we have this room and it's called the Time for You Room. And in there we offer everything from haircuts and massage therapy and different kinds of practitioners take part in this and they volunteer their time there. And sometimes people will say, well, why is that important? And we have to let people know that parents aren't looking after themselves and they're put into impossible situations. We're here to look after the entire family. That's what family-centered care means. And it was named the Time for You Room because there was a mom who'd been staying there for months and they were in a really, really tough position with their child care. And one day a team member saw her in the kitchen and she looked beautiful and she was sobbing. And so our team member went over and just asked, Are you okay? You know, is anything going on? Can I help you out with anything? And she had just received a haircut from one of the volunteers. And she said, that was the first time I'd looked in the mirror and saw myself after months of being away from home. And so we knew in the smallest way, we've just got to name that the time for you room, so that parents know it's okay to take a bit of time for yourself. You'll be a better caregiver if you've had rest, if you've had nutrition, if someone else drove you to the hospital and you didn't have to worry about parking as we offer a shut shuttle service. And so those are, you know, just some of the ways that we're supporting families. And then of course their siblings. We have art therapy and music therapy and pet therapy. And these are, you know, not just tailored for children who are in treatment. These are for their siblings. And that's why they have these wonderful memories of staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

Kristy Wolfe:

So, Suzanne, I was at the opening of that room. Also, just reminds me that that was something that I could do. Renee, you've mentioned a monthly donation. That's a wonderful way to support the Ronald McDonald House. Speaking, if you have a story, can be another way. But for me, it was a skill that I had to have photography and bring that. And you could see families light up where you don't realize that you actually do need pictures from this kind of experience. Take photos while you're at Ronald McDonald's house. Take photos while you're in hospital because the processing you mentioned as well, Renee, that telling that story is a way for you to have some therapy. You're working through the story. And I think photographs can do that too. If we were going to get you to think about how to give, amplify, or connect with Ronald McDonald House, what are the things that you would tell people? I mean, we've heard the monthly donation, we've heard speaking opportunities. What else is out there for people to give, amplify, or connect?

Suzanne Pescod:

Being at the Ronald McDonald House, there are so many tangible volunteer opportunities. You know, this is about really being in the house if you if you want to be there, if you want to see the impact of your volunteerism every single day. Our Home for Dinner program is one of the absolute best ways to get connected with the Ronald McDonald House. And I can promise you, once you do a home for dinner meal, you'll be back. It's just, it's so full of love and compassion. Um, you come in there, you make a meal for the families. We encourage you to sit down and eat with families. So you've made new friends already at the tables. It's such a beautiful example of humanity that we really um, we really encourage people if you're looking for volunteer opportunity. That is one of the best ones you can do. We have our shuttle drivers uh who get families to and from the hospital. These shuttle drivers tell us about, you know, some of their rides. And it's been the first time babies come home from the hospital. And they get to do that. They get to help these new parents trying to get the the you know, the car seat in and out. I remember that drive. Oh my gosh, I wish I'd had someone help me out with the heart. You know, my husband and I were useless. And and um, and uh, you know, on the other side of the coin, they're driving families on the day that their kids are getting their heart transplant. They're driving families on the very unknown days, and they have become a constant, reassuring figure in this family's lives. Like they just know each other well. And these shuttle drivers go absolutely out of their way on every single drive that they make. Our front desk volunteers, you know, I really think that they were the big catalyst for our expansion work because they said we're tired of the wait list. They're the ones that are calling families to, you know, help them get checked in. They're usually the first face of family sees, and they're giving with their whole heart. And uh, I don't ever want that role to not be in the limelight because it's such an essential role of volunteerism there. So there are a lot of ways to tangibly give back that way. And, you know, when I think about the really fun event, McHappy Day. We love McCappy Day. It happens in May, and um, we have a lot of fun with it. And it's a huge opportunity for our organization to tell these stories about the families that have been impacted. You know, in Alberta, we serve over 300 communities. Someone from your community, doesn't matter where you live, has stayed at their own McDonald's house in the last couple of years.

Kristy Wolfe:

Renee, would you add anything onto that?

Renee Labriola:

Well, as a parent who frequents McDonald's uh constantly, every time I go into McDonald's, I do the roundup. Because it's just, you know, like these tiny little increments, it's really like nothing, but all the nothings add up into something. And so if you can even just be a part of just the roundup, and if they don't ask, it's it's nice to just can I round up? And you just feel good about just doing something really little, but it's doable for just about everybody.

Kristy Wolfe:

I'm so glad you brought up that point too, because it not everything is accessible to everyone. And so that one little action, you don't realize what an impact that can make. I'm so glad you talked about that. I'm gonna ask you both about an organization or a person that you've worked with that is an inspiration to you. We always love kind of ending with finding out more about the things that are happening in Alberta.

Renee Labriola:

My dad uh has been a loyal supporter of the Christmas Bureau for a long time. Um, and certainly when we stayed in the hospital, I my eyes were definitely opened to the inequities. But you get to see all kinds of people and all kinds of struggles. And I think, okay, well, brain tumor was pretty bad. The only way it gets worse is if you're navigating this through poverty. So there's always like a layer where it can get worse, but it did open my eyes to just how fortunate my family is a wonderful supportive husband, uh, a beautiful support system, friends, families. So I watch people in the cancer ward who had to leave their children alone all day, all night, because they were working three jobs, taking care of other siblings. And so anything to address those kind of inequities in the holidays is something that I really appreciate. And so the Christmas Bureau bringing the the hampers, those really inspire me because it just the thought of some kid just opening something on Christmas or just having a nice meal, and that really warms my heart. Thanks, Renee.

Kristy Wolfe:

Suzanne, how about you, organization or a person that inspires you?

Suzanne Pescod:

I have to say, you know, I'm gonna go to my own parents. They were big volunteers in the community. They volunteered for organizations. They really instilled in me that it doesn't happen unless you show up. I really believe that the not-for-profit sector can change the world, that they are not allocated the resources to solve the problems that they could be solving. Instead, they end up in the hands of other sectors. And so I've taken to heart that if you show up, you can make it happen. And at the smallest level, I believe in girls in sports, and so I coach a soccer team, volunteer coach a soccer team. I have no business. I'm not good at soccer, but I but I love it. And I believe at this age group, uh it's a big one where girls drop out of sports. And I think that uh it's important to try and keep them in there for the leadership skills, for the fun, um, for the energy uh that it creates. So it's my parents that really instilled in me, you got to show up if you want things to happen. And they really instilled in me a sense of generosity. I look at my dad as one of the most generous people on the planet. He's only at his happiest when those around him are happy or looked after and cared for. And, you know, I'm 40 years old now, and I it really hits home that he never talked about that out loud. His actions were what mattered. And I saw that and I realized he really is about walking the walk, not one to talk the talk. He walks the walk. And uh, I think that's important. And uh while, you know, end up volunteering for different reasons or causes is because it's the first way to get involved.

Kristy Wolfe:

I'm gonna take this a little further. We all have younger kids, and we've talked about our families being a part of how we've learned about giving, amplifying, connecting. How do you model that for your kids?

Renee Labriola:

I mean, uh, based on what I mentioned with the Christmas stuff, we set an example for our kids. You know, we tell our kids that it's nice if you can pick one gift and you give it to somebody else because some kids have parents who can't get anything for their kids. And wouldn't it be nice if we all shared because you guys get so much?

Kristy Wolfe:

Oh, I love that.

Suzanne Pescod:

In our house, two big things matter. It's kindness and community. And I don't mean kindness as in being walked over, but I do mean kindness as in paying attention to how other people might be feeling around you and making sure that you are aware of whether it's inequities or different things going on. Community is also really important. You know, my kids they keep wanting to do lemonade stands, so they're allowed to do them. But I said the lemonade is free. You know, this is about building community, talking to our neighbors. And I just laughed because at our most recent one that we had, my son comes in, he goes, Mom, I have six dollars. And I go, Why do you have six dollars? And he goes, I don't know. They just gave me six dollars. And I go, turns out the way he was saying free sounded like three. Oh my gosh. Uh so we did make a little money off the last one, but I said, We're gonna use that to buy the next lemonade round. Our, you know, my kids have been to the Ron McDonald's in Edmonton and in Calgary. I hope that they'll visit the other two as well. We talk about the organization almost every single day. They they don't totally grasp the severity of the illnesses that are there, but they can understand when I talk to them about the kids and what they're going through. You know, my daughter asks me about Mila all the time. That was a family that I had the chance to get to know really well over the last year. And uh, with their daughter going under undergoing cancer treatment, same age as my daughter. And we talk often about that. My son is asking me now about another boy that's staying there who I'm having great conversations with, and I'm allowed to share a bit of what he's experiencing with my kids. And now they want to know every day, did you talk to your friend and and how's he doing? And when does he get to go home? They really understand that these kids can't go home. So whether they understand the illness or not, they have a deep empathy for the fact that they can't go home right now. And so we love that opportunity to share for them that you never know what someone else is going through. And so express kindness whenever you can.

Kristy Wolfe:

Oh, I love that. I am gonna also share one thing that we do in our family. We have a piggy bank. So when my kids do get uh like allowance or birthday money, they're a bit older now. We have it's split up into four sections. So it says give, save, spend, and invest. And that part around give is in every conversation about when you receive money from something, where are you putting it towards like giving back as well? And so it's just it's a neat little way to talk about like financial responsibility as well. I mean, I taught grade one for a long time. There's not a lot of financial literacy that goes into school curriculum. And so the things that I think about are how do we like share that that's important in our family as one way to do things, but there's also a way to consciously think about giving back and supporting um different areas. So, for example, one of my sons was the SPCA because he's the dog guy, right? And then my my hospital kiddo was stolery. That's like you can see when things matter to them, and it kind of helps you guide a little bit about what is important to you as well. So I really appreciate you both coming on, sharing all these pieces of your own stories as well as talking about Ronald McDonald House. There are so many incredible things happening. Thanks so much for your time.

Renee Labriola:

Thank you.

Kristy Wolfe:

Thank you. This was lovely. Thank you for joining us today. The purpose of the Wolfe Pack Warriors Foundation is to give, amplify, and connect. Visit our website, wolfepackwarriors.com, to learn more about this initiative or connect with us about a registered charity that is important to you. Don't miss the next episode. Follow Give Amplify Connect on your favourite podcast platform to hear from other Alberta-based nonprofits about the work they are doing. On a final note, remember to take care of yourself and your pack.

Ellen Braun:

Okay, you're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay. Hush, my darling. Gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay.

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Kristy Wolfe

Host